I made a trip to the mall over the weekend to visit the little coffee shop there
. At this time of year, they make this wonderful cup of cappuccino that has just
the slightest hint of peppermint flavoring in it . It's truly a delight to be
savored.
Somehow, however, I had foolishly forgotten exactly how busy the malls can get
at this time of year . . . Between the "Special Sales" and the "Holiday
Discounts" (which are concepts that I've never really understood because for
some odd reason it seems that the items in those "Special Sales" or the "Holiday
Discount" items ALWAYS seem to be less expensive after the holidays, but I guess
that's a thought to ponder over another cup of coffee at some other point in
time) . . .
Anyway, the mall seemed to be just teeming with people rushing to and fro. I sat
down at the little coffee shop in the mall there to enjoy my freshly brewed cup
of Cappuccino. As I sat there enjoying the tasty beverage before me, I watched
the hustle and bustle of the crowd all around me. People rushing here and there
in busy preparation of the upcoming holiday season. People pushing and shoving
one another, snarling at one another, as they busily made their way from shop to
shop in search of the perfect gift for that special someone on their Christmas
shopping list.
And as I sat there I pondered what I was seeing all about me. The hustle and
bustle of people busily preparing for that big day, December 25th, Christmas
Day.
I thought about how everyone seemed to plan so carefully in anxious anticipation
of the upcoming day. And I quietly wondered to myself, "have they all prepared
as busily for that day of which no one knows when it will arrive, that day that
is written of in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-8
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in
the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction
cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a
thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are
not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others;
but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and
they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day,
be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the
hope of salvation.
Don't they all realize that the greatest gift that they can share doesn't come
wrapped up in some box with fancy ribbons and bows?
Don't they realize that the greatest gift they can share with one another is the
gift of love?
Do they know the greatest gift of all, the gift of salvation, which was freely
given to us as a gift of love from the Lord?
Why bother rushing through the stores in search of the perfect gift . . . When
it seems a much more fitting gift for everyone to share would be the same gift
that Jesus shared with us . . . The Gift of Love!
Just a thought over coffee!
Durango DurangosCafe@aol.com
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